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Queen and Spadina construction chaos [PHOTOS]

Though construction crews hit Toronto streets as soon as the snow melts, it’s still a sight to behold when a major intersection gets ripped up beyond recognition.

The TTC has shut down Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue for major repairs, closing off the crossroads from July 9 to July 23.

Photographer HiMY SYeD (special to the Gleaner) took photos of the intersection over the course of a week. A look at the big machines and big digs currently dominating the intersection:

July 10, 2012

The destruction begins under blue skies.

A panoramic view of the concrete removal, a dusty process that had to happen before re-construction could begin.

July 13, 2012

Crew members lay down a section of track, which is pre-assembled in a TTC Work Yard elsewhere in the city. The sections are brought on site and laid down pre-built (this saves time). One of the site supervisors said Queen and Spadina is perhaps the most complicated track reconstruction in the city because it’s a true four-way track intersection. Streetcars can turn left, right, or proceed ahead from each of the four directions.

Blueprints for the tracks.

July 15, 2012

The almost unrecognizable northeast corner.

Looking west down Queen Street from Peter Street. Notice the rubber from the track reconstruction in the mid-1990s in the middle of the shot. One of the TTC crew members who worked on that job mentioned how ‘temporary’ that was.

Crew members in the ‘trenches,’ right in the middle of the intersection.

Looking southeast from the corner near the McDonalds. Pedestrians are being re-routed from all four corners of the intersection.